IS YOUR COMPANY READY FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEEK 2026?

May 4–8 is closer than you think. Here's what HR leaders and company owners can do right now to make it meaningful — not just on the calendar, but on the job site.

Safety has always been one of the ICA's core pillars — and it's one of the reasons so many ICA member companies are proud supporters of Construction Safety Week each year. Across the New York metropolitan region, ICA contractors participate in the week's events, activities, and stand-downs, bringing the same commitment to worker safety that defines their work on the job site every other week of the year. Construction Safety Week is a natural extension of what the ICA stands for: a stronger, more professional industry where every worker goes home safe.

This year's theme is "All In Together," and the message is one the ICA has long embraced: safety isn't one person's job. It belongs to everyone — from field crews to the front office. More than 900 companies across the country participate in Safety Week each year, and with May 4–8 approaching fast, now is the time for HR leaders and company owners to start planning. Here's how to make the most of it.

WHAT THE 2026 THEME IS ALL ABOUT

This year's Safety Week is built around three pillars that give companies a practical framework for talking about safety with their teams. Think of them as a ready-made agenda for your toolbox talks, training sessions, and team conversations throughout the week.

Recognize

Research shows workers identify only about 45% of hazards during typical pre-task briefings. Using a consistent framework — like the Energy Wheel model — can push that number up by 30%. This pillar is about making hazard identification a team habit, not a solo effort.

Respond

Spotting a hazard is only half the job. Respond is about putting real controls in place before work begins — eliminating risks where possible, not just working around them.

Respect

High-hazard work demands consistent attention throughout a project, not just on day one. If conditions change, the work stops, the team reassesses, and a new plan is made. Every time, without exception.

FOR HR LEADERS: START PLANNING NOW

Head to constructionsafetyweek.com now — they offer free downloadable toolkits, event templates, and communications materials that do a lot of the planning work for you. Think about who your field champions are: the foremen and senior crew members that people actually listen to. Getting them involved early makes the week feel real, not top-down. And build your communications like a campaign — a pre-week note from leadership, daily touchpoints tied to each pillar, and a Friday wrap-up that recognizes your team's participation.

FOR COMPANY OWNERS: MAKE IT OFFICIAL

Register your company as a Safety Week supporter at constructionsafetyweek.com. It's a public signal — to your workforce and your clients — that your safety culture is active and not just on paper. On May 6, OSHA and Construction Safety Week are co-hosting the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Participation is free, takes just a few hours, and earns your company an official OSHA Certificate of Participation. Use the week as a prompt to ask the hard questions: Are your safety programs current? Are your supervisors trained? Are your field teams working from a shared hazard identification framework?

Safety Week works best when it's treated as a kickoff, not a conclusion. The habits it sparks should carry forward well past May 8. For ICA member contractors working across New York's most demanding job sites, that's not a nice-to-have — it's the standard we hold ourselves to every day.

GET READY FOR MAY 4–8, 2026

START PREPARING FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEEK NOW

Free planning tools, event guides, and downloadable resources are available at constructionsafetyweek.com. Here are your next steps.

1. Download the planning toolkit.

Visit constructionsafetyweek.com for free event templates and communications materials built around the 2026 Recognize, Respond, Respect theme.

2. Register as a supporter.

Join 900+ participating companies and show your workforce and clients that your safety commitment goes beyond the job site gate.

3. Plan your May 6 stand-down.

Participate in the OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction and earn a Certificate of Participation for your company.

Plan for Safety Week 2026:

 https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/plan-for-safety-week/safety-week-2026